Game piece

ABSTRACT

A strip of flexible material such as paperboard and the like includes end portions shaped to similar opposed jaws. A fold line extends longitudinally of said strip intermediate the side edges thereof, and fold lines extend from the ends of said first mentioned fold line to opposite side edges of the strip forming triangular areas. When the sides of the strip adjoining the apexes of the triangular areas are pressed inwardly, the triangular areas remain flat, flexing the strip into opposed jaws having inner opposed concave surfaces which can be swung together or apart by variations in inward pressure.

United States Patent 1 1 1 Jan. 16,1973

McLaren [54] GAME PIECE [76] Inventor: Edwin C. McLaren, 10655 VesseyRoad, Bloomington W., Minn. 55431 [22] Filed: March 10, 1971 [21] App].No.: 122,885

[52] 11.8. CI ..46/154 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 3/14 [58] Field of Search....46/154, 153, 157, 22; 229/15 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,183,622 5/1965 Frank] ..46/l54 3,228,139 1/1966 Lohncs..46/157 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. O. LeverAttorney-Robert M. Dunning [57] ABSTRACT A strip of flexible materialsuch as paperboard and the like includes end portions shaped to similaropposed jaws. A fold line extends longitudinally of said stripintermediate the side edges thereof, and fold lines extend from the endsof said first mentioned fold line to opposite side edges of the stripforming triangular areas. When the sides of the strip adjoining theapexes of the triangular areas are pressed inwardly, the triangularareas remain flat, flexing the strip into opposed jaws having inneropposed concave surfaces which can be swung together or apart byvariations in inward pressure.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3.710.508

F/G 4 /NVENTOR [ow/N C. McLAPEN A TTOANEY GAME PIECE Thin inventionrelates to an improvement in Game Piece and deals particularly with astrip of flexible material which is cut and creased in a manner toprovide a pair of connected opposed jaw like members which may be openedor closed by the application of lateral pressure at the juncture betweenthe jaws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many toys have been produced for throwingand catching a projectile such as a ping pong ball or the like. Forexample, strips of fabric have been supported between a pair of handleswhich may be held in the hands and moved toward or away from one anotherto trap a projectile therebetween in the pocket formed by the fabricstrip. Cup-shaped receptacles have been provided mounted on handleswhich are manipulated to move the receptacle into the path of theprojectile in order to catch the projectile therein. Other similar meanshave been used to trap projectiles and to release them to move in apredetermined direction. An object of the present invention resides inthe provision of a game piece which may be held in one hand and whichincludes two opposed inwardly concave jaws between which a baLl may becaught or from which a ball may be thrown.

1 SUMMARY INVENTION THE IN.

The present invention resides in the provision of a game piece formed ofa single elongated strip of paperboard or the like. A fold line isprovided intermediate the longitudinal sides of the strip intersectingthe centerline of the strip and extending an equal distance on oppositesides thereof. One pair of fold lines extends from the ends of thelongitudinal fold line to one edge of the strip at the longitudinalcenter thereof. A second pair of fold lines converge from the ends ofthe strip to the opposite side edge of the strip at the longitudinalcenterline. When inward pressure is provided on opposite sides of thestrip the strip folds along all of the fold lines tending to flex theends of the strip toward one another until the ends of the strip comeinto contact.

In other words, the areas on opposite sides of the central longitudinalfold line isosceles triangles which are hingedly connected along theirbase edges, and which are foldably connected along one edge to one endof the strip and foldably connected along the second side of normallyequal length to the other end of the strip. As a result, the twoisosceles triangle areas on opposite sides of the centerline remain flatand rigid while the ends of the strip are bent to form oppositelyconcave surfaces between which the projectile may be contained.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a gamepiece designed to improve the dexterity of the players. The device mustbe moved into a position to receive the projectile and the pivoted jawsmust be opened and closed at the proper time in order to catch or torelease the projectile. The accuracy in positioning the game piece andthe timing of opening and closing the jaws increases with practice sothat the game may be usually won by the most skillful player.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

DESCRIPTION 0 THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Thegame piece is indicated in general by the letter A and is formed offlexible paperboard, flexible sheet plastic or the like. In thearrangement illustrated, the

' game piece has been designed to similate the jaws of an alligator. Thetwo ends of the game piece are shown as being symetrical so that thestrip'ends forming the jaws tend to come together at their ends;Obviously, it would be possible to make one jaw longer than another sothat the upper jaw would project beyond the lower or vice versa. Thejaws are indicated at 8 and 9.

The strip of paperboard forming the game piece A is shown as havingrounded ends 10 and 11 merging into outwardly curved side walls 12 and13. Near the center of the strip, the side walls may curve slightlytogether as indicated at 14 and 1 5, the side 14 and 15 meeting at thecenter point 16 of the strip.

In view of the fact that the game piece is to similate the mouth of analligator, generally triangular teeth 17 project outwardly from the edge13 and are foldably connected to the edge 13 so that they can be bentinto angular relation to the remainder of the jaws as is indicated inthe drawings.

A longitudinally extending fold line 19 is provided midway between thepoints 16 and intersecting the centerline of the toy which is indicatedby the broken line 20. The centerline 20 is merely for the purpose ofreference, and is not in the nature of a fold line. The fold line 19defines the base of two isosceles triangular area 21 defined by foldlines 22 extending from one end of the central fold line 19 to thecenterpoint 16v on the sides of the strip and by fold lines 23 extendingfrom the opposite end of the central fold line 19 to the center point 16onthe edges of the strip. The surfaces of the game piece may bedecorated, and tabs may be cut from the surface and folded upwardly asindicated at 24 to similate the eyes of an alligator.

The isosceles triangular areas 2.! remain flat as inward pressure isapplied at the center points 16. As the paperboard is folded along thecentral fold line 19, the two triangular areas 21 tend to flex towardface contact. Due to this fact, the outer surfaces of the end of thestrip outwardly of the triangular areas flex into outwardly convexsurfaces leaving the inner opposed surfaces of the strip ends concave.As will be understood, the areas outwardly of the isosceles triangles 21form the opposed jaws which may be swung open orclosed by theapplication of pressure at the points 16. When properly decorated, thejaws are very lifelike in appearance. The opening and closing of thejaws, combined with the proper positioning of the jaws to receive theprojectile assist in developing the coordination of the players.

The projectile B is normally a lightweight ball similar to a ping pongball which will bounce when dropped on a solid surface. In a typicalgame, a barrier is erected on a table between the sides thereof much inthe manner of a ping pong or tennis net. One player may throw the ballin the manner to bounce it over the net or barrier and the other playerattempts to catch the ball between the jaws on the first bounce. Ifdesired, the game piece may also be used to contain the ball as it isthrown, this operation requiring dexterity and skill on the part of theplayers. I

While the triangular areas 21 are in the form of isosceles triangles,this is not absolutely essential. The length of the central fold line 19relative to the width of the center of the strip determines theconcavity of the end portions of the strip. If the fold line extendsfarther beyond the center line 20 on one side than the other, one jawwill be more concave than the other. Furthermore, while the constructionshown in preferred, the apexes of the triangular areas may be beyond thestrip sides, forming truncated triangles or trapezoidal areas.

Sector shaped flaps 25 are hinged to the edges 14 and 15 adjoining andextending equally on opposite sides of, the center line 20. A short foldline 26 extends along the center line extending outwardly from thepoints 16 dividing the flaps into a pair of connected gusset flaps. Theflaps 25 are designed to fold inwardly through a generally parallelrelation (see FIG. 2) as the jaws are swung closed. These flaps formfolded edges in the areas of the jaws engaged between the thumb andfinger.

in accordance with the patent statues, l have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in Game Piece; and whileI have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire tohave it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from spirit of my invention.

1. An elongated strip of flexible material including a longitudinallyextending fold line at the center of the strip, and converging foldlines extending to the side edges of the strip, forming generallytriangular areas on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending foldline which remain flat and rigid, the portions of said strip outwardlyof said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposedrelation, and a pair of hingedly connected gusset flaps hingedlyconnected to opposite sides of said jaws adjoining said center line.

2. A game piece comprising an elongated strip of flexible materialhaving a longitudinal center line extending from end to end thereofgenerally midway between the sides of said strip, a fold line extendingalong said center line in an area substantially midway between the endsthereof, and pair of converging fold lines extending from the ends ofsaid first named fold line to the side edges of said strip, saidconverging fold lines with said first named fold line, forming similarsubstantially triangular areas on opposite sides of said longitudinallyextending center line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of thestrip outwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotalinto opposed relation.

3. An elongated strip of flexible material having a center linelongitudinally thereof midway between the sides thereof, a transversecenter line in right angular relation to said longitudinal center lineand substantlally midway between the ends of said strip of material,

a fold line extending along said longitudinal center line, said foldline extending substantially an equal distance on opposite sides of saidtransverse center line, and pairs of converging fold lines extendingfrom the ends of said fold line to the ends of said transverse centerline, forming a pair of generally triangular areas on opposite sides ofsaid longitudinal center line which remain flat and rigid, the portionsof said strip o'utwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jawspivotal into opposed relation.

1. An elongated strip of flexible material including a longitudinallyextending fold line at the center of the strip, and converging foldlines extending to the side edges of the strip, forming generallytriangular areas on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending foldline which remain flat and rigid, the portions of said strip outwardlyof said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposedrelation, and a pair of hingedly connected gusset flaps hingedlyconnected to opposite sides of said jaws adjoining said center line. 2.A game piece comprising an elongated strip of flexible material having alongitudinal center line extending from end to end thereof generallymidway between the sides of said strip, a fold line extending along saidcenter line in an area substantially midway between the ends thereof,and pair of converging fold lines extending from the ends of said firstnamed fold line to the side edges of said strip, said converging foldlines with said first named fold line, forming similar substantiallytriangular areas on opposite sides of said longitudinally extendingcenter line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of the stripoutwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal intoopposed relation.
 3. An elongated strip of flexible material having acenter line longitudinally thereof midway between the sides thereof, atransverse center line in right angular relation to said longitudinalcenter line and substantially midway between the ends of said strip ofmaterial, a fold line extending along said longitudinal center line,said fold line extending substantially an equal distance on oppositesides of said transverse center line, and pairs of converging fold linesextending from the ends of said fold line to the ends of said transversecenter line, forming a pair of generally triangular areas on oppositesides of said longitudinal center line which remain flat and rigid, theportions of said strip outwardly of said fold lines being adapted toform jaws pivotal into opposed relation.